San Francisco gets a new nonstop flight to Central America beginning June 1

California’s Bay Area is getting a new nonstop flight to Central America.Colombian airline Avianca on Friday announced that it’s launching a new nonstop route from San Francisco International Airport (SFO) to Guatemala City’s La Aurora International Airport (GUA).This will be a new seasonal route, so the flights will operate during the summer months.Avianca, a member of Star Alliance, isn’t a stranger to Northern California.The Bogota-based carrier currently flies between San Salvador, El Salvador, and San Francisco — a major West Coast hub for its U.S. partner United Airlines.Avianca’s flights between SFO and GUA will launch June 1 and run through Aug. 31.Read more: Complete guide to earning and redeeming Avianca LifeMilesGuatemala City. GIANFRANCO VIVI/ISTOCK/GETTY IMAGESHere’s how the itinerary shakes out. As you can see, the eastbound flights depart in the morning and land in the Guatemalan capital during the early afternoon hours; westbound, it’s red-eye service:SFO-GUA: Departs at 7:45 a.m. and arrives at 2:15 p.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays (all times local)GUA-SFO: Departs at 1:20 a.m. and arrives at 6:25 a.m. on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays (all times local)We should note: Avianca has set up the itinerary for one-stop service to El Salvador International Airport (SAL), so the same aircraft that flies from SFO to GUA would continue on to SAL.However, Avianca will continue to operate its nonstop service between California and El Salvador, too, a spokesperson confirmed.Travelers looking to book Avianca flights with points and miles can transfer to the airline’s Avianca LifeMiles program, 1:1, from four major transferable rewards programs:American Express Membership RewardsBilt RewardsCapital OneCiti ThankYou RewardsYou can also search partner awards through the United MileagePlus program or another Star Alliance partner, such as Air Canada Aeroplan.Avianca plans to operate its SFO-GUA service with a 180-seat Airbus A320 that seats 180 passengers. The aircraft includes Avianca’s Business Class Americas cabin, which offers more spacious extra-legroom seats, in the first three rows.However, Avianca surrounds its elevated seating option with a more premium soft product that includes onboard amenity kits.”The launch of this route responds to customer demand for more connectivity options between key destinations and is part of Avianca’s strategy to continue strengthening its international network with an efficient and reliable operation,” Alejandro Benitez, Avianca’s senior vice president of corporate development, said in a statement on Friday.Avianca has continued to grow its presence in North America. In 2025, its total departures to the U.S. were up by 12% versus 2024, according to data from aviation analytics firm Cirium.It wasn’t just new flights, either: The airline opened a new airport lounge in Miami last spring in tandem with TAP Air Portugal.Related reading:The best time to book flights for the cheapest airfareBest airline credit cardsWhat exactly are airline miles, anyway?6 real-life strategies you can use when your flight is canceled or delayedMaximize your airfare: The best credit cards for booking flightsThe best credit cards to reach elite statusEditorial disclaimer: Opinions expressed here are the author’s alone, not those of any bank, credit card issuer, airline or hotel chain, and have not been reviewed, approved or otherwise endorsed by any of these entities.